U.S. Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo released a statement on Qatar Airways’ purchase of Boeing freighters following a signing ceremony late last month. 

In a statement Jan. 31, Raimondo said the new freighters will be manufactured and assembled by American workers in Everett, WA.

“The economic impact of this sale will reverberate throughout the United States. It’s a win for our workers, our manufacturers, and our suppliers,” Raimondo said in the statement.

The deal marks the largest dollar value commitment for freighter aircraft in Boeing’s history at $20 billion. Since the beginning of the Biden administration, the revitalization of the manufacturing economy has been made a top priority. The Qatar investment, Raimondo said, represents one more step toward fulfilling that priority with the creation of more American jobs, billions of dollars in exports and a boost to the country’s manufacturing sector. 

Due to the large number of chips that the aircraft require, Secretary Raimondo highlighted the importance of the semiconductor industry in the revitalizing of the American economy. According to her statement, the announcement builds on recent investments in American workers and manufacturing made by General Motors and Intel.

With each aircraft requiring an exceptional number of chips, Raimondo said, the administration is urging Congress to put a semiconductor bill on Biden’s desk as soon as possible.